The Black Sea-bass 107 
the stems of the kelp, the water being so clear 
that every object could be seen. As I looked, 
into the range of vision, through a curtain of 
kelp which it seemed to push aside like a portiére, 
came a mighty fish which I recognized as a black 
sea-bass. It was at least six feet in length, 
weighing possibly three hundred pounds, and 
“simulated the color of the weed. At its ap- 
proach the small fry and numerous sheepshead 
disappeared before the king. Its movements 
were slow and dignified, as became its size, and 
guided either by scent or sight it swam toward 
my small sardine bait prepared for yellowtail, 
gazed at it warily and passed on to return and 
view it from another position. A score of times 
this gigantic fish, which I had previously imag- 
‘ined a glutton that rushed at food and bolted it, 
: played about the bait with tactful movements, 
-the personification of caution and deliberation ; 
then, as though satisfied, it poised directly over 
it, depressed its muzzle until it stood upon its 
head, tail upward, then took the bait and slowly 
moved off. When it felt the wire leader a whirl- 
wind seemed to have struck the kelp forest, 
leaves and stems being tossed hither and yon 
in a vortex as the tail of the mighty bass swept 
atin: ACen tai ote 
